Step 1: Lets start with the bacics

OK, an ignition coil (or spark coil) is a type of induction coil similar to a Tesla coil . it's used in combustion engines. and produces up to 50,000 volts (a 2-4CM spark) at a lethal current of 25ma.

to power it, you need a square wave. you cant use standard AC because the coil WILL EXPLODE!

Step 2: How my schematic works.

This is how my schematic works: heres is a schematic that shows what the capacitor does. This the first schematic. It is a good driver for making big, hot sparks (not to be confused with arcs).

Step 3: My schematic (cheap and easy)

this is my schematic its easy, but it, with my power source, only makes about 20 KV (1 inch ark) at a low fixed freq. it's also noisy but still very cool. this makes VERY small streamers due to its frequency. and makes cool plasma globes out of light bulbs.

simple____ || ________________hard

$0.01__ || ___________________$50+

harmless shock ___ || __________________electrocution

Step 4: A super simple driver

this ridiculously simple driver with no doubt simple,and exceptionally cheap and can easily produce 40KV! there are a few disadvantages with it, its mains powered, making it dangerous, and the frequency is not adjustable.

simple_ || ___________________hard

$0.01_______ || ______________$50+

harmless shock _________________ || ____electrocution

(due to my laziness and super slow Internet, instead of pictures, here's another instructable showing how to build it. it will have the pictures and schematic in it)

Step 5: 555 timer driver

Another popular coil driver is the popular is this 555 timer driver.

it oscillates a transistor that drives the coil. its a little more costly and complicated but its overall relatively simple.

you can tune the output by the POTs. I haven't made the driver yet

simple____ || ________________hard

$0.01_____ || ________________$50+

harmless shock ____ || _________________electrocution

Step 6: Another 555 timer driver

Here is another 555 timer driver. There are a few more components added and changed. to me this is the most complicated circuitry I found.

simple_________________ | | ___hard

$0.01_____ || ________________$50+

harmless shock _______ || ______________electrocution

Step 7: SCR driver

now, the SCR driver.

this just makes static like sparks and works by charging a high voltage capacitor and then discharging it through the ignition coil.